“Coco” is the Disney Day of the Dead movie

Coco is Pixar / Disney’s take on Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). It’s a well-crafted movie that gets to the heart of the Day of the Dead which is all about remembering family.

It’s a refreshingly original story. Pixar gets Latin culture. There are family scenes like mom’s threatening use of the flying chancla (slipper), that you will recognize from your own family.

Is it a coincidence that Disney is releasing the movie on Thanksgiving, the most important U.S. family holiday? Probably not.

Strong family ties are one of the gifts that our Latin community brings to the United States. Actually, we don’t bring it, for we were already here.

Coco is about Family

Great Grandma Coco is the family matriarch. She doesn’t say much and has a little Alzheimer’s. Coco is starting to forget her past.

Miguel is a young boy who dreams of being a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt, Peruvian-American). Unfortunately, music is banned in the family because Great Grandpa, Coco’s husband, left her for a life of music.

On Día de los Muertos, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) finds himself in the land of the dead where he meets a friendly character Hector (Gael García Bernal).

The only way for Miguel to get home to the world of the living is to get the blessing of a family member before the morning sunrise.

He and Miguel hit it off right away and together they set off to discover the real story of Miguel’s family.

Coco in New York City

Coco screened from November 22, 2017 through February 22, 2018.

Coco Awards

In 2018 Coco won a Golden Globe and the Oscar for “Best Animated Film.” It was well deserved because Pixar / Disney got it right.